Chapter 423: The Meat Market
One bowl of porridge a day was enough to remind the refugees of the disaster looming over their heads. The food was running out.
The fear of starving to death made them restless, sparking disturbances across several areas. Some of them attacked the soldiers during the distribution of food.
There were even those who were eying the kids and the injured, contemplating violence against them.
Oswin had been a skilled general in his prime. He knew well the kinds of atrocities war could breed.
So, he had increased the patrols while harshly punishing those who tried to cause the unrest.
However, he also couldn’t be too harsh on these people either. They were tired, starved, cold, and desperate.
One spark, and a full-scale riot would erupt, setting all of Suniva ablaze.
As the sun dimmed, he noticed how the people were trembling under the blankets. They clutched crumbs of hardened bread in their cracked, roughened fingers.
The unluckier ones were those who didn’t even have anything to cover themselves.
After watching their own kin punished for stealing food, they were too terrified to utter a word.
Oswin took a deep breath before standing in front of them.
"As you are already aware, we are left with little grains. But you do not have to be afraid. So long as I have a meal to eat, I will not let you starve. Our lord, His Grace, is sending rations for us. All I am asking is for you to hold on until then."
The fading light in those dull eyes seemed to stir with those words.
"Is the ration really being sent?"
"We really won’t die?"
Oswin answered all of their questions. It was comforting to see the light getting brighter in their eyes. The hope had ignited again.
The governor left the place with a slight smile; however, it vanished as soon as he entered his office.
Behind closed doors, he could no longer mask his weariness.
The sight of women cradling their kids, the dirty faces, and emaciated bodies showed the clear signs of hardships that kept appearing in his vision.
Biting back the shame, he decided to beg the powerful clans to lend him some grains again.
He was uncertain of a lot of things, and one of them was the arrival of relief funds.
Meanwhile, after the arduous journey of nearly two months, Xion was about to reach the destination.
A long line of bull carts rumbled toward Suniva’s eastern gate, laden with grain, medicinal herbs, and other essentials.
Soldiers guarded the front, sides, and back, ensuring that everything was well protected.
Even from here, it would take days to reach the heart of Suniva.
While Ray and Noxian were left to guard the heavy convoy, Xion had left on horse with Darius.
Allen rode with them as well. They needed as many healers as possible.
Bard and others were also with the convoy, obeying the order without any question.
Xion was grateful for their support. They could have stayed behind in the warm homes, but they still decided to come with him to these risky lands.
He decided then and there to reward them all with a generous amount of gold.
The night deepened, forcing another wave of dizzying chill over the land.
"Xion, do you want to rest?" Darius asked. He had one hand wrapped around Xion’s waist while with the other, he held the reins of the horse.
Xion tugged his hood down until nothing was visible. "No. I am fine. Let’s just keep going."
The Archduke didn’t press him further.
With a kick, the horse neighed and rushed forward as other soldiers followed.
Xion had a long list of things he needed to do. Delivering food, supplying blankets, and clothes to the needy. Most important of all, he needed to provide a medical facility for the refugees.
However, among the long list of things, Xion hadn’t expected to see such a heinous sight as soon as they entered the eastern gates.
There was no one to stop them, no one to ask questions. The absence of the guards at the main gates was enough to tell how bad the situation had become.
The air swished past them, carrying the scent of rot and decay.
They stepped inside the Meat Market.
During times of war and famine, people would sell their own kind.
The top of the list was the children, as their bones and meat were the softest to chew on.
These poor kids and people were sitting inside the shops, waiting with terrified eyes for consumers to buy them. Once bought, there was only one end.
Death. But even death was the sweetest mercy.
Many liked to keep the food fresh. So, they would start by slowly cutting the arms, legs, thighs, and then the stomach.
Leaving enough body so the ’food’ would remain alive for as long as possible.
The instant Xion pushed his hood back, he felt as though he had stepped into hell itself
Numerous human arms and thighs hung above the butcher shop.
People were tied to the poles while their flesh was being carved away right on the spot. After all, the butchers needed to ensure they were fresh and not tainted by some disease.
Buyers picked what looked most ’appealing,’ before ordering body parts as though they were cuts of lamb.
The ’meat products’ were gagged to muffle their screams, but Xion’s ear heard them loud and clear.
No matter how many history books he had read, nothing prepared him for this.
His breath quickened, and the stench of blood nearly gagged him.
"Don’t look," Darius said, covering his eyes with his wide palm. "Give me an hour, and I’ll settle everything. Until then, I want you to stay with Allen. Can you do that for me?"
Even if Xion wanted to help, this was not the place he could offer it. He simply wasn’t cruel enough to deal with these butchers and buyers.
He forced the vile clawing at his throat to the pits of his churning stomach. "Okay. I’ll wait for you."
It wasn’t hard to find a temporary place to stay when the entire city was in such disarray.
As soon as Xion entered the small room, the door was shut tight by Allen.
"Teacher, can you tell me again about this Orc transformation Virus?"
Xion hummed.
The discussion went on despite the chaos that reigned over the people operating the market.